Turbine Art Fair to be powered by exciting headline sponsor

Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, has partnered with Turbine Art Fair as the headline sponsor.

The RMB Turbine Art Fair is a unique South African arts festival that brings together galleries and artists from around the country to present and sell works in the iconic Turbine Hall in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Turbine Art Fair is the epicentre of emerging African art, championing established and new talent in an accessible environment. RMB promotes access to the arts by supporting and exposing emerging artists and attracting diverse audiences, together with existing and new collectors. “RMB is committed to positively transforming lives through the arts and the growth of the creative economy. Through the RMB Turbine Art Fair we aim to enhance the visual arts market in an environment that is inclusive, accessible and proudly African,” says Alison Badenhorst, Head of RMB Corporate Marketing.
“The purpose of Turbine Art Fair is to develop young artists and grow the market for African art. RMB shares our vision and this partnership will help to elevate art collecting across a wider market, strengthening the greater creative economy,” says Glynis Hyslop, founder of Turbine Art Fair and MD of The Forum Company.
The RMB Turbine Art Fair is an all encompassing cultural experience for visitors, with artisanal food and beverages, vibrant music and an interactive Talks Programme. It differentiates itself from other South African art fairs through its accessible pricing strategy. The selling price of art works generally falls between R1000 and R50 000, which presents opportunities to savvy investors and new buyers to extend their collections easily, and for new artists to thrive off this talent platform.
“Since its inception in 2013, audiences of all backgrounds have been delighted by TAF’s celebration of creativity and have come to anticipate the Fair’s exciting interpretation of visual art, music, and food. We aim to educate, entertain and sell – to inspire!” adds Hyslop.
Galleries representing established and emerging artists, art organisations and original projects, present their efforts side by side, creating a synergy that is infectious to all who visit.
Badenhorst concludes, “The business philosophy core to RMB’s 40-year history of success is ‘Traditional values. Innovative Ideas’. The visual arts both capture and communicate powerfully across this spectrum, reflecting the spirit of the time and fueling socio/economic and political discussion that may otherwise remain unheard. It is refreshing to see artists who, through their works, influence robust discussion, action or reaction, because of the relative permanence of their pieces in individual or corporate collections.”
RMB Turbine Art Fair will take place from Thursday 12 July (VIP Opening) to Sunday 15 July 2018 at Turbine Hall, Newtown, the cultural precinct of Johannesburg.